Handbags at dawn in row between Italian football coaches

FORMER Manchester City and now Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has accused Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri of using homophobic language towards him during a touchline altercation on January 19 when the two teams met in the Italian cup tie.

“In England, someone like him wouldn’t even be allowed on the touchline,” Mancini told Rai Sport while Sarri said: “Am I homophobic? That seems over the top. I was just irritable.”

In addition, and without explaining his reason, the InterMilan boss also accused his fellow Italian of being a racist.

During the match, Sarri is alleged to have called Mancini two insulting words inferring that he was gay and both managers were eventually sent to the stands when the fourth official mistakenly showed nine minutes extra time which Mancini queried and which seems to have started the argument.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has launched an investigation into Mancini’s allegation and he continued to complain even after Sarri apologised saying “I went to find Sarri in the locker room and he apologised, but I want him to be ashamed of what he said,”

“People like him cannot be in football. If not, it never gets better.”added Mancini.

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